International Consultant - Legal Expert

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) delivers centralized advice to the OSCE Secretary General, Chair and all OSCE executive structures on the full range of legal issues that affect the OSCE. These include interpreting the regulatory framework, handling administrative appeals and complaints and advising on host country arrangements, privileges and immunities issues, dispute settlement, tenders and negotiations of complex contracts and administrative policies, along with other requests to advise on ad hoc issues.

OLA sits within the Office of the Secretary General (OSG), which in turn plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, co-ordinating policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship as well as management decisions taken by the Secretary General.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

Duration of Assignment:

100 working days

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Office of Legal Affairs’ extra-budgetary project aims at increasing its capacity to support extra-budgetary activities of the OSCE. Under the general supervision of the Head, Office of Legal Affairs, the consultant will contribute to the delivery of the work of the unit on all legal issues relating to the functions, structure and activities of the Organization. Specifically, the successful candidates will:

1. Provide a legal review of extra-budgetary project proposals;
2. Advise on mandates of OSCE executive structures in the context of extra-budgetary activities;
3. Provide legal advice required in the process of application for extra-budgetary funding;
4. Provide legal advice related to the terms and conditions of acceptance of extra-budgetary contributions;
5. Provide legal advice required in the course of implementation of programmatic activities funded through extra-budgetary contributions (e.g. developing, negotiating, and concluding MoUs with partners, cost-sharing agreements, donor agreements, advising on procurements and engagement of implementing partners, asset management, and intellectual property matters);
6. Provide legal advice on the administration of personnel and consultants funded by extra-budgetary contributions, and defense of the Organization in disputes with such consultants and in appeals/complaints submitted by such personnel;
7. Provide legal advice on the privileges and immunities matters related to the activities or personnel funded from extra-budgetary contributions;
8. Provide legal advice on risks that the activities funded through extra-budgetary contributions could expose the Organization to and advice on legal instruments to mitigate such risks;
9. Provide legal advice related to reporting to donors (e.g. disclosure of internal documentation, advice on external audit, etc.); and
10. Provide legal advice on review and strengthening of the CRMS elements that govern the acceptance and administration of extra-budgetary contributions by the Organization.

Deliverables:

Comprehensive and timely legal advice provided to the relevant stakeholders throughout the period of consultancy.

Head/OLA will verify the performance of the Consultant and will certify whether the services have been successfully performed.

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in law with specialization in public international law;
• A minimum of three years of directly-related professional experience, including two years at the international level;
• Demonstrated ability to grasp the important aspects of complex issues and make expeditious and firm decisions based on sound judgement;
• Strong ability to deliver written and oral information clearly;
• Professional fluency in English, including excellent drafting skills; working knowledge of Russian and/or German would be an asset;
• Proficiency in standard software applications, including practical experience with Microsoft packages;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will depend on tasks and deliverables, the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

Additional Information

• Issued by: OSCE Secretariat
• Requisition ID: SEC000184
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: 2
• Location: SEC - OSCE Secretariat, Vienna
• Issue Date: Apr 5, 2023
• Closing Date: Apr 19, 2023
• Employee Status: Short-Term
• Job Field: Legal Affairs
• Target Start Date: As soon as possible